Sip and Scale

Blendi Muriqi

Welcome to "Sip & Scale," hosted by The Delegate Dude, Blendi Muriqi, CEO of Delegate.co and the mind behind an AI-powered virtual staffing solution transforming business operations. Each episode dives into entrepreneurship, featuring expert guests like business owners, startups, and industry leaders. Discover tips on growing your business, maximizing revenue, and mastering delegation. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, grab a drink and get ready to level up. Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and sip your way to success. Subscribe now and let's toast to scaling your business!

  1. The Hidden Cost of Doing Everything Yourself in STRs | Mariam Avetisyan & Blendi Muriqi

    6D AGO

    The Hidden Cost of Doing Everything Yourself in STRs | Mariam Avetisyan & Blendi Muriqi

    If you’ve ever found yourself scrubbing floors at 2 AM, juggling guest messages, and wondering if scaling your short-term rental business is even worth it…you’re not alone. The truth? Doing everything yourself feels cheaper… until it costs you your time, your energy, and your ability to actually grow. In this episode of Sip & Scale, I sat down with Mariam Avetisyan, Airbnb Host and Co-Founder of Lume Stays (formerly Mariam’s BnB). Mariam opens up about her journey from solo host to running a growing STR brand, and why learning to let go and delegate was the only way to build something sustainable. We dive into the real, behind-the-scenes struggles STR hosts face: the burnout that comes with trying to do it all, the blind spots in guest experience when you’re stretched too thin, and how to finally shift from “host mode” to “business owner mode.” If you’re serious about scaling your rental business without burning yourself out, this episode will hit home. What You’ll Learn:  👉 Why doing everything yourself holds your STR business back  👉 The mindset shift from “superhost” to “CEO”  👉 How to recognize when it’s time to delegate (and what to hand off first)  👉 The role of branding and consistency in guest experience  👉 Why building systems is more valuable than chasing more bookings  👉 Mariam’s biggest lessons from rebranding her business into Lume Stays Whether you’re a new host or managing dozens of properties, Mariam’s story will inspire you to rethink how you’re running your rentals—and why your time is the most valuable resource you have. Tune in now to hear the full conversation! --- Follow Mariam and check out her work here: 🏡 Lume Stays - https://www.instagram.com/lumestays/ 💻 Website: https://www.mariamsbnb.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostwithmariam/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mavetisyan/ Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    47 min
  2. Stop Losing Guests to Bad Cleaners and Do This Instead | Blendi Muriqi & Cristina Vascil | Blendi Muriqi & Cristina Vascil

    AUG 1

    Stop Losing Guests to Bad Cleaners and Do This Instead | Blendi Muriqi & Cristina Vascil | Blendi Muriqi & Cristina Vascil

    A reliable cleaner can make or break your short-term rental business. And if you've ever dealt with a no-show or a messy last-minute handoff, you know exactly what we're talking about. In this episode of Sip & Scale, I sat down with Cristina Vascil, Director of Partnerships at Turno, to unpack one of the biggest bottlenecks STR hosts face when trying to grow: cleaning. We talk about why having one cleaner isn’t enough, how to build a cleaning system that doesn’t fall apart at the worst time, and how Turno is helping hosts solve this problem at scale. Cristina also shares her journey into the STR space, what makes a great partnership in this industry, and why property managers and vendors alike need to think long-term about guest experience and cleaner happiness. This episode is perfect for hosts, property managers, or anyone trying to scale a short-term rental operation without burning out over turnover days. What You’ll Learn: 👉 Why having only one cleaner is a risky strategy 👉 How to create a backup system for your cleaning team 👉 What hosts overlook when it comes to the guest experience 👉 Why Turno is more than just a cleaner marketplace 👉 How partnerships fuel real growth in the STR industry 👉 The hidden impact of cleaning on 5-star reviews 👉 What hosts can learn from game developers and team dynamics (seriously!) Watch/listen now! Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    37 min
  3. The #1 Reason Small STR Hosts Struggle to Grow | Blendi Muriqi & Mike O'Connell

    JUL 3

    The #1 Reason Small STR Hosts Struggle to Grow | Blendi Muriqi & Mike O'Connell

    If you’ve ever stayed up chasing a signature before check-in—or worse, bounced between five apps just to welcome one guest—you’re not alone. In this episode of Sip & Scale, I sat down with Michael O’Connell, founder of Happy Guest, to talk about the real headaches behind guest management—and how short-term rental hosts can stop doing everything manually and actually scale their operations without burning out. We go deep into what a seamless guest experience actually looks like (spoiler: it’s not just clean towels), how small hosts can finally start upselling like hotels, and why building with hospitality in mind will always beat chasing trends. If you’re a host, property manager, or just curious how smart tech can transform customer experience, this one’s for you. What You’ll Learn: 👉 Why managing guests shouldn’t feel like babysitting 👉 How STR hosts can automate check-ins, house rules, and upsells 👉 The difference between good UX and good hospitality 👉 Why Happy Guest is focusing on trust and frictionless experiences 👉 How to scale without relying on VC money 👉 The hidden revenue opportunities most hosts miss Watch/listen now! Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    48 min
  4. How to Know It’s Time to Hire Your First Salesperson | Blendi Muriqi & Mafalda Johannsen

    MAY 22

    How to Know It’s Time to Hire Your First Salesperson | Blendi Muriqi & Mafalda Johannsen

    Most founders wait too long to make their first sales hire or worse, they hire the wrong one. In this episode of Sip & Scale, I sat down with Mafalda Johannsen, a sales hiring expert who’s worked with early-stage startups across Europe and the US. We talked about why founders struggle with sales (especially if they’re product people), the top mistakes made in the hiring process, and why great onboarding is the difference between your first rep thriving or ghosting you after month two. Mafalda also shares what founders should actually do before hiring—like validating your offer, cleaning up your CRM, and understanding who your real customer is. Oh, and we got into why conference sales often flop (hint: no prep), how founders should think about remote and global hiring, and what a strong sales process actually looks like. What You’ll Learn: 👉 You don’t need a sales background to succeed—transferable skills can be just as powerful. 👉 Founders should lead sales early on to truly understand their customers and validate the product. 👉 Interviewing potential customers is a critical first step before scaling your sales team. 👉 You should only hire sales reps when sales starts pulling you away from high-impact work. 👉 A strong hiring process includes a case study before interviews to evaluate real-world skills. 👉 Effective onboarding cuts ramp-up time and sets your sales hires up for success. 👉 Knowing your ideal customer profile (ICP) makes onboarding and sales training way easier. 👉 Delegation is key—when your time gets stretched thin, it’s time to start handing things off. Whether you're a founder, sales leader, or hiring your first AE, this one’s packed with gems. Tune in! Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    44 min
  5. How to Unlock New Skills and Grow Beyond Your Job Title | Blendi Muriqi and Mariane Rose Nillo

    MAY 1

    How to Unlock New Skills and Grow Beyond Your Job Title | Blendi Muriqi and Mariane Rose Nillo

    Ever feel like you’ve got more to offer than what your job title says? I sat down with Mamai, one of our amazing virtual assistants at Delegate, to talk about that exact feeling—and what happens when you finally get the chance to step up and show what you’re really capable of. In this episode, we unpack what it’s like to go from a structured corporate job to the unpredictable, fast-moving world of startups. Mamai opens up about the shift from task-taker to decision-maker, the challenges of adapting to remote work, and how cultural understanding plays a massive role in client relationships, especially when working across borders. Whether you’re hiring VAs or are one yourself, this conversation is packed with real talk on growth, communication, and how to create an environment where people can thrive and not just check boxes. What You’ll Learn: 👉 Why corporate structure can limit your potential 👉 The mindset shift required to succeed in startup life 👉 How remote work can unlock balance and new opportunities 👉 The importance of cultural awareness when working globally 👉 How the VA industry is evolving in the Philippines and what that means for businesses Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    36 min
  6. Hate Networking? Here’s How to Make It Easy (Even If You're an Introvert) | Blendi Muriqi and Alice Huang

    MAR 20

    Hate Networking? Here’s How to Make It Easy (Even If You're an Introvert) | Blendi Muriqi and Alice Huang

    Ever feel like networking is awkward, exhausting, or just plain ineffective? You’re not alone. In this episode of Sip & Scale, I sit down with Alice Huang, a fractional COO and expert in community building, to break down how to make networking work for you, even if you hate it. Alice shares her journey from Vancouver to Austin and how she’s built thriving communities by focusing on real, meaningful connections instead of just handing out business cards. We dive into the strategies behind hosting successful in-person events, the power of delegation, and why networking is more than just showing up…it’s about what happens after the event. What You’ll Learn: 👉 How to build a powerful network—even if you're an introvert 👉 The secret to hosting events people actually want to attend 👉 Why in-person networking is still more effective than online connections 👉 The role of delegation in freeing up time for high-value work 👉 How to follow up and turn casual meetups into real business opportunities If you’ve ever struggled with networking or community building, this episode is packed with insights to help you connect with the right people and grow your business. Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    37 min
  7. Why Most Startups Fail: Stop Guessing & Start Testing | Blendi Muriqi & Aviv Shalgi

    FEB 20

    Why Most Startups Fail: Stop Guessing & Start Testing | Blendi Muriqi & Aviv Shalgi

    In this episode of Sip and Scale, I sit down with Aviv Shalgi, founder of Solar Simplified, to break down why so many startups fail, and what you can do to avoid the same fate. Aviv shares how Solar Simplified is flipping the traditional solar model on its head, the biggest challenges in customer education, and how data-driven decision-making is the key to business growth. We also dive into marketing strategies, the power of delegation, and why testing before scaling is crucial for any startup. What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why 80% of Americans can’t access solar energy—and how Solar Simplified is changing that ✅ The biggest mistake startups make when launching new products ✅ How to use data to make smarter business decisions ✅ The evolution of marketing strategies—and what works in today’s market ✅ Why delegation is essential for scaling without burnout Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro01:25 Revolutionizing Solar Energy Access06:51 Challenges in the Solar Industry11:01 Customer Education and Engagement16:09 The Go-To-Market Strategy24:30 Leveraging Data and Analytics40:36 Common Pitfalls for Startups45:07 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies50:36 The Importance of Delegation58:16 Outro Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    57 min
  8. Boost Vacation Rentals with Digital Marketing Hacks | Blendi Muriqi & Conrad O'Connell

    JAN 24

    Boost Vacation Rentals with Digital Marketing Hacks | Blendi Muriqi & Conrad O'Connell

    In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Conrad O'Connell, a digital marketing expert who’s carved out a niche in the vacation rental space. Conrad shares how he made his way from helping his father-in-law’s fishing charter business to building a thriving agency that specializes in marketing vacation rentals. We dive into what makes promoting vacation properties different from traditional businesses, and why branding and visibility are so crucial for driving direct bookings. We also talk about the rise of social media, the importance of email marketing for keeping clients happy, and the behind-the-scenes of scaling a marketing agency. Conrad’s journey is full of real insights on how to grow your business, build community, and even the power of offshore hiring. Whether you’re in vacation rentals or just looking for solid marketing tips, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Key Takeaways: The vacation rental business comes with its own set of marketing challenges, and branding is key to standing out.If you want direct bookings, you need to make sure your brand is visible and appealing.Email marketing isn’t dead, it’s still a powerhouse for retaining clients and driving engagement.Scaling an agency? Focus on client satisfaction, build a strong community, and set clear expectations.Don’t sleep on offshore hiring! It can make a huge difference in growing your business without the overhead. Stay tuned for more episodes! Apple Podcasts | Spotify | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Delegate.co

    1h 6m
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About

Welcome to "Sip & Scale," hosted by The Delegate Dude, Blendi Muriqi, CEO of Delegate.co and the mind behind an AI-powered virtual staffing solution transforming business operations. Each episode dives into entrepreneurship, featuring expert guests like business owners, startups, and industry leaders. Discover tips on growing your business, maximizing revenue, and mastering delegation. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, grab a drink and get ready to level up. Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, and sip your way to success. Subscribe now and let's toast to scaling your business!

Information

  • Creator
    Blendi Muriqi
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Sip and Scale
  • Show Website
    Sip and Scale